Locked in a pitcher’s duel, the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, broke the game open with a seven-run seventh inning to take game one over Lake Erie 8-3.
The Freedom (13-26) led 1-0 heading into the seventh after a sixth-inning single from Taylor Oldham.
Florence starter Davis Adkins kept the Crushers (17-21) at bay by scattering four hits in six shutout innings, while striking out six.
In the seventh, the pitcher’s duel looked destined to continue with one man on and two away, but the Freedom sent eight men to the plate with two outs in their seven-run rally. Weaver started it with a single, moving Isaac Wenrich to third. Then Andre Mercurio shot a ball to right field, scoring Wenrich, moving Weaver to third, and putting two in scoring position for the top of the order.
Daniel Fraga walked and ball four got past the catcher, sending Weaver home and Mercurio to third. With the Freedom leading 3-0, Oldham delivered his first triple of the season to deep centerfield, scoring both Mercurio and Fraga. Newell ripped a ball through the right side to score Oldham and put Florence ahead 6-0. After Godbold singled, Seigel laced a double down the right-field line, scoring Newell and Godbold and finishing the seven-run inning.
With an 8-0 lead, Tony Vocca, Jeremy Hutchison, and Matt Pobereyko finished out the game allowing three runs (one earned), two hits, and four walks. In the end, the Florence pitching staff totaled 12 strikeouts and allowed only 11 base runners.
Oldham led the team with three RBIs, including his first triple of the year. Weaver posted a team-leading three hits.
All nine Freedom players reached base in the game, seven scored at least one run, and seven finished with at least one of the team’s 11 hits. Florence scored all eight of their runs with two outs.
Jose Barraza was the only player to finish with a multi-hit game for Lake Erie. Jordan Kraus sat down the first 12 batters he faced, but took the loss (6 2/3 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K).
Game two between the Freedom and Crushers is set for tomorrow, June 29 at 7:05 p.m. Jeremy Gooding (2-4, 4.21 ERA) will take the hill for Florence against Justin Sinibaldi (0-1, 6.75 ERA).
The Florence Freedom are members of the 12-team professional Independent Frontier League and play a 96 game schedule, with 48 home games at UC Health Stadium, located at 7950 Freedom Way in Florence.
From Florence Freedom